Apple's latest earnings were a mixed bag filled with slipping iPhone sales and countered by rising revenue. Reporting after the bell Thursday, the iPhone

Apple reported $18.5 billion in sales in greater China last quarter, comfortably below consensus estimates of $20.9 billion.

Apple beat Wall Street's quarterly profit estimates on Thursday, but iPhone sales and China revenue for the holiday quarter were weak due to stiff Chinese competition and a slow rollout of artificial intelligence features.

Apple's earnings call is today at 5 pm ET. AAPL stock heads into the report down 4% YTD. Analysts are focused on services and China sales.

Apple’s all-important holiday quarter was something of a mixed bag. For one, Apple posted what it called it’s “best quarter ever” with revenue of $124.3 billion, up 4 percent year over year. However, the iPhone stumbled a bit as sales in China took a tumble.

Apple said that sales in China dropped in its latest quarter versus the prior year. Revenue in the Greater China segment fell to $18.5 billion in the first quarter, when analysts were expecting sales of $20.

The company’s overall sales and profits were boosted by stronger-than-expected sales of iPads and Macs, where new chips helped persuade customers to upgrade.

The tech giant’s sales of apps and services helped profit grow 7 percent from a year ago, even as the company contended with slumping sales in China.

Wall Street is mainly focused on Apple's iPhone sales in China and any guidance related to its March quarter, which could include iPhone SE4 sales.

Apple (AAPL) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that topped estimates as its services revenue rose, though iPhone sales fell short. The iPhone maker’s revenue rose 4% year-over-year to a record $124.